Ppm Concentration Research Articles

Influence of ZnO hexagonal pyramid nanostructures for highly sensitive and selective NO2 gas sensor

In this work, we have synthesized the ZnO Hexagonal pyramid structures (ZnO HPs) for low detection limit of NO2 gas sensors by a facile hydrothermal method. The structural, morphological analysis has been evinced by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analysis, which witness as formed HPs are hexagonal crystal structure and it seems homogenous morphological features. The gas sensing performance of ZnO HPs towards NO2 gas at different temperature was investigated. The findings of the gas sensing showed that the ZnO HPs has a better response and recovery time towards 3 ppm concentration of NO2 gas at 270 °C. This outstanding gas sensing response of 4.31 of ZnO HPs sensor leads exceptionally strong surface contact between the NO2 gas molecules and the surface-active sites of ZnO HPs gas sensor.

Bioactive metabolites, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities of fermented local rice (Pare ambo) by Pleurotus spp.: In-vitro and in-silico approach

Pare ambo, a local black rice variety popular in Tana Toraja (South Sulawesi), is recognized for its health benefits, especially for those managing diabetes or aiming to prevent obesity due to its antioxidant-rich composition. This study explored the impact of Pleurotus spp. Fermentation on pare ambo, examining its nutritional transformation. Proximate analysis indicated higher levels of crude protein (9.67 ± 0.73%), crude fat (3.36 ± 0.84%), and fiber (1.67 ± 0.33%) in P. cystidiosus fermentation compared to P. ostreatus and P. djamor. Antioxidant and antidiabetic activities significantly improved in all fermentations at 500 ppm concentration. Pare ambo fermented by all three Pleurotus species contained citric acid and trimethyl ester compounds, displaying superior antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, interacting with antioxidant receptor 5O0x (−7.2 kcal/mol) and antidiabetic receptor 3w37 (−8.2 kcal/mol) compared to the unfermented sample. Fatty acid profiling identified 32 compounds, predominantly FAMEs with ester groups. Pleurotus cystidiosus and P. djamor fermentations contributed 20 compounds, while P. ostreatus contributed 18 compounds. Prominent interactions were visualized between naphthalene, and decahydro-2,6-dimethyl, with 5O0x and 3w37. Anthocyanins were detected through HPLC separation in P. cystidiosus and P. ostreatus fermentation outputs. This study shows pare ambo as a promising functional food, abundant in natural antioxidants and antidiabetic compounds, highlighting the potential of Pleurotus spp. Fermentation to enhance the nutritional profile and bioactivity of indigenous rice varieties.

Comparative analysis of anti-corrosive performance: Azure C dye vs. alternative Azure dyes on mild steel in 1 N HCl at elevated temperatures

Organic derivatives and dyes represent a promising and efficient class of corrosion inhibitors, demonstrating considerable potential in fulfilling the criteria for utilization as corrosion inhibitors. In the present study, the anti-corrosive impact of some Thiazines dyes: Azure A (D-1), Azure B (D-2) and Azure C (D-3), has shown a decelerative effect on mild steel in 1 N HCl environment and was investigated using experimental {Weight loss (WL), Electrochemical method and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)} and theoretical {Density Functional Theory (DFT)} studies. It was found to have an efficiency in the order of D-3 (98.09 %) > D-1 (89.94 %) > D-2 (76.44 %) at elevated temperatures (338 K for 100 ppm concentration) deliberated through WL method. D-3 had greater stability than D-1 and D-2 at elevated temperatures which is indicative in the obtained experimental data. As examined via electrochemical and WL analysis, the cathodic type of inhibition mechanism and adsorption isotherm viz. Langmuir, Temkin and El-Awady were followed by all three dyes. Results of surface analysis and thickness of deposited layer by AFM agreed with other experimental outputs. A theoretical study for these thiazine dyes was probed employing DFT that illustrated the formation of a complex among the dyes and mild steel. The corrosion inhibition efficacy of dyes, as deduced from both experimental and theoretical data, aligns cohesively, thereby establishing a comparatively durable monolayer at the mild steel/medium interface, preventing steel deterioration in a specified range of temperatures.

Kinetics and synthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by a putative-mutant of Bacillus licheniformis

The present study deals with the kinetics of improved poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production by an L-cysteine HCl-depressed mutant of Bacillus licheniformis. Production of biodegradable polymers is to eliminate use of materials derived from petrochemicals and also because of their environmental impact. For the current study, mutant strain (NA-21) & wild-type (IIB-isl19) were used for PHB production. Submerged culture with two-stage fermentation technique was used for PHB production. Results indicated that PHB production was improved with 300 mM of –HNO2. The superior mutant strain (NA-21) resulted in 2-fold more PHB as compared to the wild-type (IIB-isl9). It was selected, and resistance against L-cysteine HCl was developed. At 4 ppm concentration of L-cysteine HCl, PHB production by mutant strain (NA-cys4) was higher than its wild counterpart by 5.7-fold. Kinetic study of parameters including specific growth rate (µ h− 1), growth (Yx/s,Ys/x), product yield coefficients (Yp/s,Yp/x), volumetric rate constants (Qp, Qs, Qx) and specific rate constants (qp, qs, qx), were also accomplished. Moreover, Yp/x, Qp and qp = µ × Yp/x were found to be very significant as 1.254 ± 0.06 (g/g biomass), 0.134 ± 0.01 (g/l/h) and 0.168 ± 0.01 (g/g/h), respectively. The effect of fatty acids on PHB production highlighted the improvement in PHB production by 1.94-fold. The highest PHB production during the study was 16.35 ± 3.12 g/l which highlighted its significance (p ≤ 0.05) and impact on the overall process. The variation in PBH yield between wild-type and mutant B. licheniformis is possibly because of induced DNA interstrand thus making unstable thymidine-thymidine dymers. From the results, it was concluded that improved PHB production on industrial scale is fairly possible and it holds the potential to contribute significantly to plastic circularity in the future.

Effect of nanoformulation Azadirachta indica on some factors associated with the vectorial capacity and competence of Anopheles aquasalis experimentally infected with Plasmodium vivax

Malaria remains a highly prevalent infectious disease worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Effectively controlling of mosquitoes transmitting of Plasmodium spp. is crucial in to control this disease. A promising strategy involves utilizing plant-derived products, such as the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica), known for its secondary metabolites with biological activity against various insect groups of agricultural and public health importance. This study investigated the effects of a nanoformulation prototype Neem on factors linked to the vector competence of Anopheles aquasalis, a malaria vector in Latin America. Different concentrations of the nanoformulation were supplied through sugar solution and blood feeding, assessing impacts on longevity, fecundity, fertility, and transgenerational survival from larvae to adults. Additionally, the effects of the Neem nanoformulation and NeemAZAL® formulation on the sporogonic cycle of P. vivax were evaluated.Overall, significant impacts were observed at 100 ppm and 1,000 ppm concentrations on adult survival patterns and on survival of the F1 generation. A trend of reduced oviposition and hatching rates was also noted in nanoformulation-consuming groups, with fertility and fecundity declining proportionally to the concentration. Additionally, a significant decrease in the infection rate and intensity of P. vivax was observed in the 1,000 ppm group, with a mean of 3 oocysts per female compared to the control's 27 oocysts per female. In the commercial formulation, the highest tested concentration of 3 ppm yielded 5.36 oocysts per female. Concerning sporozoite numbers, there was a reduction of 52 % and 87 % at the highest concentrations compared to the control group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the A. indica nanoformulation is a potential as a tool for malaria control through reduction in the vector longevity and reproductive capacity, possibly leading to decreased vector population densities. Moreover, the nanoformulation interfered with the sporogonic development of P. vivax. However, further basic research on Neem formulations, their effects, and mechanisms of action is imperative to gain a more specific perspective for safe field implementation.

A Mechanistic Action of Salicylic acid on Metabolic Profiling, Antioxidative Potential, and Growth Pattern of Amaranthus hybridus

This study has been conducted to investigate the effects of salicylic acid application on the growth and biomass of Amaranthus hybridus. The crop was grown in pots during July-August 2023, under natural weather conditions in the botanical garden of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Different doses of SA (0.69 ppm – 13.8 ppm) was sprayed on the shoot of the plants. Compared to the control group, SA application at 0.69 ppm, 1.38 ppm, and 2.76 ppm showed increased growth and yield of the plants. SA applied at 1.38 ppm concentration, particularly, gave maximum increments in the length and biomass of the crop. SA application reduced the formation of oxidative stress markers (H2O2, SOR, MDA) by increasing the activities of antioxidants like SOD, POD, APX, total phenol, and proline. Salicylic acid treatment also increased the nutritive value of the crop by increasing the level of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and protein, while reduced the levels of oxalic acid. The photosynthetic efficiency of the PSII was strengthened better with 1.38 ppm SA application by increasing chlorophyll content, allocation of absorbed light energy to drive the photochemical process, and quenching of the heat energy. The metabolic profiling via UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS revealed increase in the number and proportion of secondary metabolites belonging to phenolic, alkaloids, terpenoid, flavonoids, betalains, and coumarins group by 240%, 127%, 37%, 182%, 83%, and 90% respectively. Hence, 1.38 ppm of SA has been considered as the suitable dose for spraying on Amaranthus hybridus for increased growth and biomass.

Evaluating the efficiency of silver nanoparticles prepared using <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> and <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> subsp. <i>tenebrionis</i> in controlling eggs and adults of <i>Callosobruchus maculatus</i> (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) which are prepared biologically by two bacterial species, Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis (Btt) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (P.f) to control southern cowpea beetle insect, Callosobruchus maculatus. Many features of the prepared nanoparticles were examined, and the results obtained showed that the highest absorption value of AgNPs was at 262 nm. Whereas the results of FTIR analysis showed that several compounds played a role in the silver ions reduction process, which included alcohol, alkane, primary amine, and amine group. The scanning electronic microscopic images showed that the average diameter of nanoparticles which was created by P.f was 48.52 nm, while it was 56.08 nm for the nanoparticles prepared by Btt. The study showed no significant differences between the activity of both AgNP types against C. maculatus eggs, while a significant preference was recorded for the activity of Btt AgNPs against the C. maculatus adults. The highest percentage of unhitched eggs was 53.8% recorded at 3000 ppm concentration, while Btt AgNPs gave 59.6% at 3000 ppm. The highest mortality rate of the adults who were treated by Btt AgNPs was 58.8 % at 3000 ppm concentration, while it was recorded 50% at 3000 ppm with P.f AgNPs treatment. The current study demonstrates the efficiency of biologically prepared AgNPs in controlling C. maculatus insect life stages, which encourages using of these nanoparticles as a modern strategy in management of insect pests.

Thermodiffusive desalination

Desalination could solve the grand challenge of water scarcity, but materials-based and conventional thermal desalination methods generally suffer from scaling, fouling and materials degradation. Here, we propose and assess thermodiffusive desalination (TDD), a method that operates entirely in the liquid phase and notably excludes evaporation, freezing, membranes, or ion-adsorbing materials. Thermodiffusion is the migration of species under a temperature gradient and can be driven by thermal energy ubiquitous in the environment. Experimentally, a 450 ppm concentration drop was achieved by thermodiffusive separation when passing a NaCl/H2O solution through a single channel. This was further increased through re-circulation as a proof of concept for TDD. We also demonstrate via molecular dynamics and experiments that TDD in multi-component seawater is more amenable than in binary NaCl/H2O solutions. Numerically, we show that a scalable cascaded channel structure can further amplify thermodiffusive separation, achieving a concentration drop of 25000 ppm with a recovery rate of 10%. The minimum electric power consumption in this setup can be as low as 3 Whe m−3, which is only 1% of the theoretical minimum energy for desalination. TDD has potential in areas with abundant thermal energy but limited electrical power resources and can contribute to alleviating global freshwater scarcity.

Room Temperature-Built Gas Sensors from Green Carbon Derivative: A Comparative Study between Pristine SnO2 and GO-SnO2 Nanocomposite

Room temperature-built gas sensors were fabricated from graphene oxide (GO), pristine and doped SnO2 nanostructures. The as-synthesized green carbon derivative (GO) nanomaterials were prepared from waste plastic precursor using Modified Hummer’s methodology. Pristine SnO2 and GO-SnO2 nanocomposite were synthesized employing a wet synthesis technique known as co-precipitation. The as-prepared nanoparticles were investigated for structural crystallographic and morphological features using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analytical techniques. High-angle annular dark field (HAADF) and elemental quantifications of the nanopowders were investigated with the Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Textural features were determined with the assistance of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyzer. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to ascertain the material stability and degradability of the synthetic materials. Functional group and bond structure analysis was conducted using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Gas sensor devices were tested for responses towards CH4, H2, LPG, and CO2 gases at 20 ppm concentrations of each. GO-SnO2 nanocomposite sensing device showed optimal detection response towards the respective analyte gases with values of 5.00, 5.08, 4.90 and 3.41 respectively. The prepared nanocomposite showed stability and selectivity towards the target gases in an order of magnitude of H2 > CH4 > LPG > CO2. The optimal gas sensor device’s dynamic gas sensing response was ascribed to the GO doping effect which relatively increased its surface area (46.48 m2g-1) and absorption sites.

The Effect of Zinc Concentration on Bioaccumulation in Milkfish <i>(Chanos chanos)</i> Use of <sup>65</sup>Zn as a Radioactive Tracer

Bioaccumulation studies of zinc (Zn) in milkfish (Chanos chanos) have been carried out in the laboratory using a 65Zn radiotracer. The research was conducted to determine the effect of Zn concentration on the ability of Chanos chanos to accumulate and release these contaminants. Zn absorption follows the single-compartment model, and experiments were carried out until stable conditions were achieved. The stages of research were biota collection, acclimatization, bioaccumulation, and elimination. Acclimatization was carried out for biota adaptation in the experimental environment. Bioaccumulation was carried out for 7 days by placing the biota in an aquarium filled with seawater added with 65Zn radiotracer contaminants. The elimination process involves the release of contaminants from the biota by placing them in contaminant-free seawater for 7 days. The results of the bioaccumulation experiment showed that the concentration factor (CF) ranged from 0.67 - 18.18 mLgr-1 at a concentration of ZnCl2 of 1.5 ppm, and the absorption constant (ku) 1.878 - 3.267d-1 and R2 was 0.0276. The release of contaminants in depuration experiments was highest at ZnCl2 2 ppm concentrations. The percentage of retention during depuration was between 14.61 - 79.91 %, the elimination constant (ke) was 8.681, and R2 was 0.7213.

Larvicidal and Ovicidal Properties of Essential Oils Derived from Origanum minutiflorum and Salvia dorystoechas against the Aedes aegypti

This study assessed the larvicidal and ovicidal effects of essential oils extracted from the above ground of Origanum minutiflorum and Salvia dorystoechas, belonging to the Lamiaceae plant family, on Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae and eggs. The research utilized essential oil concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 ppm. Larvicidal activity was evaluated 6 hours post-exposure and subsequently at 24-hour intervals over a period of 5 days while ovicidal activity was monitored every 2 days for a total of 10 days. Findings indicated that both essential oils demonstrated significant larvicidal effects at 50 and 100 ppm concentrations against Ae. aegypti larvae. In contrast, ovicidal effects were not observed to be statistically significant. Throughout the experiment, O. minutiflorum essential oil consistently showed higher larvicidal potency compared to S. dorystoechas. Therefore, while essential oils from both O. minutiflorum and S. dorystoechas effectively target Ae. aegypti larvae, especially at elevated concentrations, they did not exhibit ovicidal properties.

Degradation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds in waste gas by catalytic plasma system

Dichloromethane (DCM), one of the main components of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs), is recognized as extremely hazardous and severely affects human health and the environment. In this study, a self-designed Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) reactor combined with different catalysts to treat the exhaust DCM gas containing ppm concentration levels. A plasma system can generate high-energy electrons and free radicals (such as hydroxyl radical (OH·), and superoxide radical (O2·)) to degrade DCM in the industrial exhaust gas into most HCl and CO2. The removal efficiency can achieve 98.7% under the conditions, a flow rate of 1042 mLmin−1, the residence time of 76.72 ms, concentration of DCM of about 1650 ppm, and specific input energy of 591 JL−1. Although the plasma was highly reactive, the selectivity of the desired products was low, and there were unwanted toxic byproducts such as CHCl3 (1.7%) and CCl4 (13.8%). Thus catalysts were loaded in the plasma discharging zone to enhance removal efficiency and change product distribution. The catalysts were conducive to producing water-soluble products such as HCl. At the same time, the formation of some unwanted byproducts, CHCl3 and CCl4, were also inhibited. We found that using 11.5 kVpp plasma operating voltage combined with 200 mg Co3O4/HZSM-5 can lower the DCM concentration of the outlet stream from 1650 ppm to 53 ppm. Under this condition, the removal efficiency was about 96.7%, attaining permitted emissions.

Measuring the concentrations of some gaseous air pollutants and dust particles in the western city of Hamzah in Iraq

This research concentrates on studying and analyzing the spatial and temporal variation of the concentrations of air pollutants in the Hamzah-western city during the four seasons of the year 2022 by studying the concentrations of gaseous pollutants in the air, such as NO2, SO2, CO, CO2, and O3, as well as measuring the concentrations of dust particles suspended in the air, such as PM2.5 and PM10. The number of sampling sites reached six, distributed into five different sectors (industrial, residential, transport, agricultural, and a mixed sector combining industry and transportation) in order to show the discrepancies in the concentrations of pollutants and explain their causes. The results of in situ measurements and laboratory analyses showed that there is a spatial and temporal variation in the concentrations of air pollutants. The highest concentrations of carbon monoxide CO, carbon dioxide CO2, and sulfur dioxide SO2 were recorded in sector 1 and during the summer season at concentrations of 38.5, 337, and 2.9 ppm, respectively. While the highest concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were recorded in sector (2) with a concentration of 0.65 ppm, and all those concentrations were outside the permissible limits, the lowest concentrations were recorded for gases in sector (6), which covered all the study semesters. As for the concentrations of suspended dust particles in their sizes (PM2.5 and PM10), the highest concentrations were recorded in Sector (2), during all seasons of the study, and at 383.81 and 389.38 ppm concentrations, respectively. While the lowest concentrations of suspended particles of both sizes were recorded in Sector 6, a value of 119.65 ppm was recorded for PM2.5 minutes and 115.65 ppm for PM10 minutes. Thus, all their values during the study period were greater than the permissible limits.

Effect of foliar application of trace elements and growth regulators on plant biomass and symbiotic efficiency of Lens culinaris M.

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of foliar application of plant growth regulators (IAA and GA3) and trace elements (ZnSO4 and boric acid) on shoot and root length and nodulation efficiency in Lentil (Lens culinaris). Results indicated that significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher shoot and root length, nodule numbers plant−1 (77.0 ± 1.93 cm, 25.0 ± 1.10 cm and 31.0 ± 1.82, respectively) were recorded with foliar application of IAA @50 ppm concentration followed by IAA @ 25 ppm as compared to IAA@100 ppm and control treatment at fruiting stage of lentil. Similar trends have been seen with the application of GA3. At fruiting stage of lentil, significant (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced shoot length (21.35%), root length (11.76%) and nodule number plant−1 (180%) was observed with the foliar application of GA3 @50 ppm over the control treatment of lentil. Present study demonstrated that shoot and root length, nodule numbers plant−1 was markedly reduced at higher concentration. In the case of zinc sulphate and boric acid, significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher shoot and root length, nodulation efficiency was recorded with zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 50 ppm and boric acid @ 50 ppm in contrast to ZnSO4 @100 ppm and control treatment. Current study reported first time, results indicate that impact of plant growth regulators, and trace elements on nodulation and growth in lentil are totally concentration-dependent. Further, research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and the optimum application concentrations for an improved crop performance under field conditions.

Efficacy of different fungicides against Ascochyta rabiei and Botrytis cinerea associated with chickpea

Ascochyta rabiei and Botrytis cinerea have been reported to cause blight and gray mold diseases in chickpea in different parts of the world and cause a significant economic loss to crop. In the present investigation, an in vitro evaluation of fungicides was conducted to find out the sensitivity and fungicide concentration in inhibiting the growth of Ascochyta rabiei and Botrytis cinerea. In vitro evaluation of fungicides revealed that, among five fungicides, bavistin (carbendazim 50 WP) a systemic fungicide was highly effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth with 100% inhibition at all the concentrations tested followed by baycor (bitertenol WP (25% w/w), with 98.88% inhibition at 500 ppm concentration and captan with 80% mycelia growth inhibition in A.rabiei. The fungicides such as chlorothalonil, copper oxychloride, and bitertanol at all concentrations were ineffective against B. cinerea. The fungicides that were effective under laboratory conditions could be further evaluated under field conditions to validate their efficacy and they could be incorporated as a component in integrated disease management in chickpea.

Regression analysis on the stability of surfactant mixed-MoO3 nanoparticles dispersed Gossypium arboretum biodiesel

ABSTRACT The stability, physicochemical characteristics, molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanoparticles in Gossypium arboretum biodiesel (BD20), and deduction of the regression equation for parameters governing the stability of biodiesel are the main subjects of this study. With and without the surfactant Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB), MoO3 nano additions were combined with BD20 at 60, 80, and 100 ppm concentrations. A spectrophotometer that measures the samples’ absorbance and transmittance was used to examine the stability of nano fuels on days 1, 10, and 20. CTAB mixed nano samples demonstrated high stability and enhanced essential fuel qualities when compared to basic nano fuels. The fuel BD20MoO380CTAB80 (BD20+ MoO3 80 ppm+ CTAB 80 ppm) showed a decreased transmittance of 88.3% and a higher absorbance of 4.3 AU.BD20MoO380CTAB80 recorded a higher value of Cetane number of 64 and a heating value of 41,238 kJ/kg. Physicochemical properties such as Kinematic Viscosity and Relative Density recorded lower values of 4.23 cSt and 880 kg/m3. Linear regression is applied to the obtained absorbance and transmittance values.

The Use of Sodium Hypochlorite and Plant Preservative Mixture Significantly Reduces Seed-Borne Pathogen Contamination When Establishing In Vitro Cultures of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seeds

In vitro plants that are free of pathogens are crucial for biotechnological breeding methods. The present study investigates the effects of sterilization with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and the addition of Plant Preservative Mixture (PPMTM) to the growth medium on pathogen elimination, germination, and seedling development of the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety Mara. The sterilization treatments differed in the duration of seed sterilization in 4% NaClO and the PPM concentration added to the growth medium. Pathogenic fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Bipolaris were completely eliminated when the seeds were sterilized in NaClO and placed on growth media with the addition of PPM. Extending the duration of the sterilization treatment with NaClO to 50 min reduced Fusarium contamination, while the interaction between the 50 min sterilization treatment with NaClO and the addition of PPM to the growth medium reduced Alternaria contamination. Our results suggest that PPM could complement sterilization procedures with NaClO in the introduction of highly infected wheat seeds in vitro. Seed germination was not affected by sterilization with NaClO or by the addition of PPM. However, PPM at a concentration of 4 mL L−1 had a negative effect on seedling development.

In vitro Antifungal Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici in Tomato

Present investigation on Mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato was carried out at department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Latur to find out antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato. Mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles produced from the fungus Trichoderma harzianum. Characterization of silver nanoparticles were carried out by UV-Vis spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) which revealed that synthesized nanoparticles were having the UV absorption peak at 420 nm and nanoprticle size was 50 nm. Silver nanoparticles demonstrated significant antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato by using Agar well diffusion method and Poisoned food technique. In Agar well diffusion method, the highest zone of inhibition 18.66 mm was recorded at 100 ppm concentration than other treatments. In poisoned food technique, the suspension of silver nanoparticles at 100 ppm concentration recorded highest (75.19%) inhibition. This was followed by 50 ppm, 30 ppm, 10 ppm conc. and Trichoderma culture filtrate which recorded 66.67%, 58.89%, 54.45% and 51.45% inhibition, respectively. Growth of the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato decreased drastically with increase in the concentration of the silver nanoparticles.

Deep eutectic solvents as green and sustainable diluents in headspace gas chromatography for the determination of trace level genotoxic impurities in pharmaceuticals

Genotoxic impurities (GTIs) are potential carcinogens that need to be controlled down to ppm or lower concentration levels in pharmaceuticals under strict regulations. The static headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) coupled with electron capture detection (ECD) is an effective approach to monitor halogenated and nitroaromatic genotoxins. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) possess tunable physico-chemical properties and low vapor pressure for HS-GC methods. In this study, zwitterionic and non-ionic DESs have been used for the first time to develop and validate a sensitive analytical method for the analysis of 24 genotoxins at sub-ppm concentrations. Compared to non-ionic diluents, zwitterionic DESs produced exceptional analytical performance and the betaine : 7 (1,4- butane diol) DES outperformed the betaine : 5 (1,4-butane diol) DES. Limits of detection (LOD) down to the 5-ppb concentration level were achieved in DESs. Wide linear ranges spanning over 5 orders of magnitude (0.005–100 µg g−1) were obtained for most analytes with exceptional sensitivities and high precision. The method accuracy and precision were validated using 3 commercially available drug substances and excellent recoveries were obtained. This study broadens the applicability of HS-GC in the determination of less volatile GTIs by establishing DESs as viable diluent substitutes for organic solvents in routine pharmaceutical analysis.

A new Corrosion Inhibitor Based on Modification of Polyacrylic acid in acidic Solution

This search investigates the corrosion inhibition properties of polyacrylic acid. The corrosion inhibition performance of carbon steel (CS) in a 1M HCl solution treated with the polyacrylic acid inhibitor was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization measurement, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The findings of this study demonstrate that polyacrylic acid exhibits significant effectiveness as corrosion inhibitor for CS in Acid solution. The inhibitor acts as a mixed-type inhibitor, and its corrosion inhibition efficiency increases with higher concentrations of polyacrylic Acid concentration up to 89.9% obtained at 298 K for a 400 ppm concentration, while decreasing with increasing acid concentration.